Sherry's Birthday

Sherry--Christmas 1953

Today is my sister in law, Sherry's birthday. She is 58. It is also the day of her husband Scott's visitation and tomorrow is his funeral. Sherry is such an incredible woman. I have learned so much from her in the 30 years I have known her. She was a single mother of 2 when I married Sweetheart. She owned her own "women's only" gym, and I worked for her for a while. We became very close. She fell in love and married a man whom she called "the love of her life". His name was Chris. He swept her off to Idaho to a log cabin in the middle of the wilderness. She loved her life there with her 2 children and Chris. After a few years they moved to Colorado. Sherry began a deep relationship with God during her time on the mountain. It is the same mountain she lives on now. Chris had a double wide modular home brought up to their 46 acres and they raised Sherry's 2 children, 2 more children they had together, an adopted daughter followed, and I can not begin to count the teenagers they fostered up on that mountain. I loved any trip Sherry, Chris and all the kids made back to Illinois. Sherry is 10 years older than me, and is the closest thing to a mentor I have had in regards to my relationship with God. She also showed me how to quilt...that was a story!!! Anyway, we saw them at least every other year and wrote long letters to each other. After 17 years of marriage, her and Chris were still more in love than any two newlyweds you would ever run across. They took a trip with another couple who owned a piper plane. It would be a second honeymoon. The 4 took the plane to a remote area in Canada and had the most glorious week imaginable. On that trip, Chris wrote a beautiful poem for Sherry called "Spirit". It spoke of the two of them being so connected that even when one died, their spirits would stay connected. Even death could not separate them. As that little 4 seater piper plane took off to come back home, it crashed into a forest of evergreen trees. Chris died.

Sherry's first 2 children were grown by then, but the younger 3 were still children. Pre-teens. Also, 3 or 4 teen foster children. Scott was there, a friend, when a friend was needed. He was friends with Sherry and Chris through the foster care association. Eventually they fell in love and married. Scott was understanding of Chris' memory in Sherry's heart. He had not been married before. He was a very kind and loving man, who spent the next 12 years taking care of and raising Chris's family...now his own family. Scott had adopted a son already, who Sherry took as her own also. A very blended family. They had stopped taking foster children by this point.

Scott built them a house just above the modular home Chris built. Chris's house still stands, his son and son's wife live there now.

They decided to adopt another baby and 6 years ago they added a newborn boy to their family, which by now already had grandchildren. A few years later, another baby came along through adoption, and they were complete. Now all the children are grown except the two youngest that share Scott's surname, are home.

Sweetheart, Kyle and I took a trip out to see them in the summer of 2000. They moved into the new home while we were there.
Here is Sherry and her baby brother (Sweetheart) in her sewing room...a huge loft.

Sherry and me in her sewing room.

The 46 acre backyard is incredible.
They were very happy in that double wide module, but the new home was a gift of love, just as the first home was.
Scott loved Sherry very much. He was 12 years younger than her, but Sherry is so young looking, and acting that you would never have known it. She loosened him up a little bit, that is for sure!!! She would ask him "How much do you love me?" and he would say "42". That was a private code for infinity based off a Mel Brooks movie he loved.

Scott spent his last hours with his family. He was very peaceful...joking around and smiling alot. He prayed a blessing over each of his children, and grandchildren...all the children that came from Sherry. They were ALL there in the room with him. He told them, "I am going to set up a lamp post. It will be the brightest one there...when you come to heaven look for it. I will be waiting." He spent time one on one with each child and his closest friends. His joy had come back. As soon as Sherry told him he was going to die soon, the depression he had been feeling for months lifted and he came back to himself. He apologized that she would need to deal with arrangements on her birthday and told her to try not to. His family flew in and due to their schedule it could not be avoided. There were some wonderful, intimate, beautiful moments that Sherry shared with me. One of the most touching was after Scott passed away. Sherry picked up her cell phone and the number 42 had been punched in and was on the screen. He must have done it while she was not looking. That would be just like Scott.

(A healthy Scott napping in the shade during a family reunion 7 years ago.)

I can not tell her "Happy Birthday". That would seem inappropriate at this time. I will say, "I Love You". She knows you are praying and thinking of her and she appreciates it. God Bless you Sherry.

Saturday Chores

Saturdays in my home are work days. Sweetheart works a full day at his job. It is the perfect day for me to dig in here. No homeschool. No errands to run. No babysitting, as it is Bud and Rachel's family day. On Saturdays I do not have a heavy list of "to do's" on my schedule. It is the day I go through each room and tidy, swish and swipe, mop and glow, and get all the laundry in the entire house DONE...that means washed, dried, folded and put away. It is always a great feeling to get the laundry caught up. Before any of this starts, the kids get breakfast and then have the privilege of watching some "cartoons" like McGee and Me, or Veggie Tales. Sometimes an episode of Flintstones is thrown in. It is a weekly treat here and I am glad they enjoy it.

I wanted to make note that I changed my profile and commenting name from "bren" to "~bren~". Not a big change, but there is another "bren" who visits some of the same blogs I do. Not a big deal and I would not have changed my name for that. I am certain she is a lovely lady...all Bren's and Brenda's, that I have met, are...though her political and spiritual views are SO opposite my own, and I was actually mistaken to be her by a reader. They were surprised that my comment was so opposite my blog...well it was not me who left the comment. Anyway, I hope the ~~'s clear up identity.

"Baby watch" is still on. Rachel did not have the "procedure" done yesterday. There were reasons, but it really does not matter. Here is where we are....Emerson is big. I would have never thought it, as Rachel looks ready to pop, but not overly big. From behind you can not even tell she is pregnant. I remember in the delivery room with TJ, the doctor and I had a bet on weight. He said 8 pounds, I said 7 or less. We were very surprised at the almost 10 pound baby boy that Rachel gave birth to NATURALLY. I am not saying that was a choice...the girl was screaming for an epidural, and when the nurse told her "Sorry it is too late for one now." I thought Rachel would come off that bed...I almost told the nurse, "RUN!!!!" Anyway, back to my little Emerson Avery....she is believed to be 8-9 pounds right now (I had that wrong..it is 9-10 pounds now) ~Edit: That was according to an ob-gyn nurse who said they would never induce for less than that weight. Rachel says no actual weight was mentioned.~ With 2 weeks to go, she could logically gain another pound or more. Doc is not having that. He has scheduled an ultrasound for Monday and if she is any where near the size he thinks she is, he will induce her on that day. I am working hard on her quilt. No...it will not be done by Monday, but Niki's beautiful afghan will bring my granddaughter home. Speaking of Emerson's quilt, it has brought with it a new quilting tool. I am not at all happy about this...in addition to my stork scissors, quilting betweens, thread and thimble..... ....magnifiers are now among my hand quilting tools. EEK! I am disturbed!
Another quick thought on the yellow fabric in that "old quilt"....as I said in my last post, this one fabric, though it was in the same line as the others, did not fair well in daily use. While cutting and sewing this quilt together, that yellow fabric did not appear to be any different than the others. It's texture was solid. It was as vibrant and strong as any of the others. It received the same handling as the other fabrics. It was washed and dried the same way. It received the same exposure to the elements as the others...yet it did not come out unscathed. Had I known this in advance, I would have taken different care of this quilt. I would have used wisdom in handling it. It's care would have been focused around the weakest part of that family of fabrics. How could I have known??? I could have watched. I could have noticed the first sign of weakness or fragile thread. I did not notice until it was too late. Today, look at your family. Find the fray that is almost invisible to the naked eye. Care for it, before it comes undone, and you never even noticed.

Deep Thoughts About Nothing and Everything

The past couple of weeks so many things have been going through my head. During my prayer times and in my quiet moments I have had some stirrings. My focus has changed from one of stress related, RAD frenzy to a more peace filled, wisdom seeking, calm. It is true what the Word says...ask for wisdom and you will get it. I found a perfect example here. EVERY parent should read this post. It spoke to my core. Oh, what a wonderful God we have!
Thank you all for your prayers and words of encouragement as Scott passed from this life into the arms of his Jesus. Because of your prayers, he did not pass on his son's birthday and he became responsive. Able to communicate with the people he loved one last time. Sherry says she has some things to share with me about those last hours. It will wait til later as she is surrounded by family and friends, making arrangements for her husband's burial. I am certain because of the prayer covering, what she has to share will be incredible to hear. Continue to pray for Sherry and the boys. Also, their grown children who loved Scott very much.
As I was tucking children in to bed last night, Zachary asked if he could use the "old quilt". I made this quilt 16 years ago for Kyle.
Zach said he is at just the right age for it...

As I spread it over him I was struck by the wear of this quilt. The quality of the fabric is high. All quilt store fabrics, all from the same line and maker. All the colors are still bright and vibrant over the years of wear and washing.

The hand quilted stitches are still as stable and secure as when they were placed there 16 years ago.

All except the yellow.All of these blocks have faded in their brightness. The fabric has not held together, and the stitches holding the yellow 9 patches together are not secure as the fabric around them has thinned. All the fabrics from the same family, yet not all could adapt to the environment. Most thrived yet one fell apart. I told you my thoughts are deep today.
Today, Rachel is at the doctor...even as I type these words. She is having a procedure done that is intended to begin labor (too much information!). Pray for her and Emerson. It seems right to announce a birth after announcing a death. It is the cycle of life.

TJ came for "preschool".3 different levels of learners. One learning his numbers, one learning to add, and one learning fractions.
A lunch of "pee-pee putter" and honey and then the sun comes out!!!!
Time to play outside for the first time in days. For me, it is time to grab my quilting needle, and pray for my new granddaughter.

Scott Holbrook

June 30, 1963-September 4, 2008

We Love You

Rainy School Days

It is COLD! I wore socks today. A nice "Autumn Wreath" candle and a cracked window, to let in the crisp air, made the dark rainy day almost welcome.

What do a gum wrapper, corners of a worksheet and a dog-ear have in common? They are all things we use for bookmarks at our house. Today we made "real" bookmarks. No more gum wrappers for us.Other than school, I did get my frig cleaned out. I was not able to get it done the other day...we have had a flu bug here...but today it was finished. I had to put a towel over the light to get a picture. It is so shiny clean that it is blinding!It was a sin how much food I had to toss. I will try to be more frugal next week with the leftovers. I found the latest science experiment in the freezer.Zach is always freezing something! Charlotte is doing her laundry today and has completed her school work for the day. Things have gotten much more peaceful here.
Thank you for your prayers. Also, Scott. No news yet. He is such a fighter, I would not be surprised if he pulled through this one too. He has been given 3 months to live for the last 2 years!

Tomorrow Rachel goes to the doctor. Maaaybe this weekend we will have a baby! That is another prayer request.

Have a blessed evening!!

Please Pray

My sister in law Sherry (Sweetheart's sister) just called me. She is asking for prayer for her husband Scott. He is 45 years old and has been fighting esophageal cancer for over 2 years now. There have been complications from treatment and he has been in the hospital for the last few weeks. Tonight his sats dropped to 50 and he is non responsive. He signed a DNR so there will be no respirator. Today is their son's 2nd birthday. Please pray that God will do a miracle tonight. Whatever His will is, pray for Sherry. She lost a loving husband in a plane crash and now Scott's battle with cancer...well, just pray for her. They have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, plus many older children and grandkids. They have adopted as many children as they have birthed! They are both very special people. I will not be able to be there for her because I can not leave Rachel, and Sherry lives in Colorado. Please cover her in prayer from where ever you are.

Fall Decorating

It is finally September! I love Autumn. Yes, I realize it is still summer...my family reminded me of that yesterday as I put up Fall decorations. There is just something about September. It feels like the start of something new. It could be the new school year, but my friend Amy told me it is actually the Hebrew New Year. Maybe that is it. Anyway it is a time for me to set new goals for the year. This year is very different from any other year. There are no new weight loss goals, homemaking goals, or financial goals. Only ONE goal....PEACE. That is the goal. Peace.

I put up some fall pretties around the house. Just a few odds and ends to make it feel more in the season than the 90 degree heat from yesterday.

Before we hung the fall "Welcome" sign on the front door, Zach and I cleaned the front porch. It is the area we focus on during the first week of the month anyway. It was much needed.
We left this little guy alone....
There are still some things we need to add, but for now, this will do.

Sweetheart had 2 days off in a row. It was so nice. We had a quiet Monday. The kids came for a cookout and we had burgers, brats, and hotdogs cooked on the grill. All the kids...Bud, Rachel, Kyle, Charlotte, Zach, and TJ had a huge water fight in the backyard. I would have taken pics, but I just could not watch. The few seconds I peeked out had me a mess...I kept telling everyone to be careful of Rachel. It made me a wreck!! All ended well and they were cooled off and tired when they went home.
Zach made friends with a cricket.

And a little frog named Toady.
HEY!!! That is one of my good tupperware containers!!
Today is a day of homeschool and homemaking. Sweetheart and Kyle are off to work. Kyle will be pleased with his lunch today...his favorites.
Cheesy pizza rolls, yogurt, and diet dew.

I plan to clean out the frig today...

A deep clean is not scheduled until next week, but it is too bad to wait. Schedules are good, but we need to do what needs to be done. This job can not wait. Now it is time for a refill on my coffee and to start our Bible lesson for the day. Our Bible lessons are never boring. Charlotte and Zach keep things exciting. Last week we were reading in Proverbs 27. I read aloud and we discuss it. I read verse 15, which says,
"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike."
Zachary said, "That's like you, huh Mom?"